Thoroughly Equipped

If you were assigned a new job and your boss gave you a manual, which he said would "thoroughly equip" you for the work you had to do; what other book of instructions or words of direction would you need?  I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count: None!

"None" is the correct answer if you have received a manual that "thoroughly equips" you.  Whatever you needed to accomplish and the manner in which it was to be accomplished would be in that manual.  You wouldn't be calling your boss, asking for directions because you would have them.  If you did, his first question would likely be, "Have you read the manual?"

You might call him to ask for clarification of something the manual directed - not because the manual did not cover it but because you were having a little difficulty understanding precisely what was written.  You would need to study the manual thoroughly in order to be thoroughly equipped by it but you wouldn't need another manual or another set of instructions hand-delivered, unless the author of the manual made mistakes.  You might need a co-worker to help you better understand an application or even a point.  But you wouldn't need a new manual or an addendum to it as long as its author actually did his job in writing the manual.

In the Bible, we read, "All Scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim 3:16-17).  So why do so many Christians lament, "I wish God would speak to me and tell me my purpose"?  God has spoken, he has told you what and how to do his will - have you read his Manual?

Why are Christians looking for a new word of prophecy when His original Word "thoroughly equips?"  Why are there groups with Christian labels offering additional books that are said to provide additional truth to the Bible, which "thoroughly equips?"  Why do so many clamor to one who purports to speak for God when God has spoken for himself in his word?

Why, as Christians, are we not "thoroughly equipped," since we have the Bible, which "thoroughly equips?"  Perhaps it's time to stop asking God to send us a word and start "religiously" studying the word he has provided.  Perhaps it's time to stop looking for a new word of prophecy and read the Word we already have.  Perhaps it's time to stop waiting for someone to tell us what God has to say and start studying together to understand what He has said.

May I suggest daily quiet time reading your Bible and weekly study time with other disciples to better come to grips with what you have read?  May I suggest that we take the Bible as seriously as we take a training manual at work or textbook at school?  May I suggest that coming to know your Bible is foundational to coming to know it Author?  May I also suggest that its Author did not err in writing it - it actually does "thoroughly equip."  Jus' Say'n.